Most dealers who rent RVs reported a sharp uptick in rental revenue during 2013, according to a new survey of rental dealers conducted by the RV Rental Association (RVRA). More than half of respondents plan to increase the size of their rental fleet during 2014 to capture more of the growing market, RVRA reported in a press release.

“These survey results underscore what many of us in the rental space already know,” said RVRA Chairman Scott Krenek who owns Krenek RV Super Center in Coloma, Mich. “The RV rental market is vital and growing. That’s why so many RVRA members are looking forward to a great summer. Renting RVs is profitable and helps drive interest in the RV lifestyle.”

RVRA is a unit of the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), and the survey was conducted through the RV Retailer Intelligence program, a service of the RV Assistance Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of RVDA. To create a snapshot of current market conditions and gain insight into the coming season, the survey asked rental operators to report on fleet size, revenue trends, rental contract length, fleet composition and future plans.

Most respondents said their revenue grew in 2013, with 75% of survey participants reporting rental revenues between 6% and 49% higher than in 2012. Nearly a third of respondents said last year’s rental revenue was 20% to 49% higher and a little more than one-quarter reported their rental revenue as 10% to 19% higher. Ten percent said their 2013 RV rental revenue was flat from the prior year and another ten percent reported a small downward trend in revenue.

Concerning the size of their rental fleet, 55% of the dealers responding said they plan to expand their fleet this year in order to capture more rental business. The most popular length of an RV rental contact was six to seven nights, according to those answering the survey.

In terms of the type of models rented, multi-location RV rental operators that don’t focus on sales primarily rent Class C motorhomes. However, a high percentage of dealers responding to the survey rent towable RVs. Three-quarters of those responding to the survey have some towables in their rental fleet and 20% of those responding rent towables exclusively.

The Recreation Vehicle Rental Association (RVRA) is a national association of companies that rent recreation vehicles to consumers. For more information about renting RVs go to www.rvra.org. The site provides information for dealers interested in entering the rental market and for consumers searching for rental operators and basic RV rental information.

According to a press release, he will serve out the unexpired term of outgoing RVRA Chairman Bert Alanko of MBA Insurance and serve an additional year as the rental association’s representative on the RVDA board.

“I would like to thank the RVDA board on my election to RVRA Chairman,” Krenek said. “I look forward to working with the RVDA board to continue and build on the great work of former Chairman Bert Alanko. I encourage all RVRA/RVDA members to diversify, plus expand their RV rental fleets, and to take advantage of all the education opportunities RVRA/RVDA offers.”

Krenek brings to the position an extensive background in the RV rental business and a reputation as a leader in the field. An owner and operator for more than 35 years, he was instrumental in starting the industry’s first 20 Group focused exclusively on helping dealers improve their rental operations. Krenek has also served as an instructor at the RV Dealers International Convention/Expo and the annual RV Rental School organized by MBA Insurance.

“Scott has a long history of serving RVRA and its members as an educator and mentor,” said RVDA Chairman Jeff Hirsch of Campers Inn. “We are pleased he will be joining the RVDA Board of Directors.”

The action took place during the RVDA board meeting in Fairfax, Va., March 18-20. In other related action, the board:

• Approved recommendations by the Nominating Committee to institute a new policy that will include the RVRA chairman’s position in the association’s annual nomination and election process.

• Directed the RVRA board to recommend an organizational structure for the rental association in accordance with the RVDA bylaws.

RVRA is the national association of RV rental companies and a division of RVDA.

After two decades of service, RV Rental Association (RVRA) Chairman Bert Alanko of MBA Insurance has announced he will step down from that position following the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association’s (RVDA) board meeting in March.

According to a press release, Alanko is a long-time contributor to RVDA and has served as chairman of the rental association for 19 years. His years of service have been marked by multiple RVDA/RVRA awards for membership recruitment, the RVDA Chairman’s Service Award in 2004, and in 2011, RVDA’s highest honor, the James B. Summers Award.

“It has been my honor and a lot of fun to have been allowed to serve as the RVRA chairman, sit on the RVDA board and work with the dealer board members for all these years,” said Alanko in announcing his departure. “The dedication that board members exhibit toward the progress and success of the RVDA and our industry is truly inspiring. This opportunity has allowed me to see our RV industry from a whole different viewpoint than one would normally experience. The friendships that I have made have enriched my RV career. I only hope that I have been able to make a positive contribution.”

MBA Insurance, Alanko’s company, is a consistent sponsor of the RV Dealers Convention/Expo along with contributing to the development of the rental educational track at the event and providing financial support to the RV Learning Center.

“Bert Alanko has provided excellent leadership and outstanding guidance to the RVDA board over the years,” said RVDA Chairman Jeff Hirsch. “He is a passionate advocate for RV rentals and the important role they play within the RV industry. We will miss his enthusiasm, candor, Midwestern values, and his humor on the board.”

Nominations are now being accepted for RVRA leadership positions. A new chairman and board members will be elected by RVRA members in early spring. RVRA, a subsidiary of RVDA, is the national association of companies that rent RVs including dealers and rental-only companies.

Bert Alanko of MBA Insurance in Scottsdale, Ariz,, received the James B. Summers (JBS) Award during the RV Dealers International Convention/Expo on Oct. 5.

According to a press release, Alanko was honored for his long-time commitment and wide-ranging involvement in the RV Dealers Association (RVDA) the RV Rental Association (RVRA).

Alanko has served on the RVDA board as RVRA chairman since 1991, making him the longest serving board member in the association’s history. He currently co-chairs the RVDA Membership Committee and has served on the Convention/Expo Committee. His company also supports the association through contributions to the RV Learning Center, advertising in RV Executive Today magazine and as a convention/expo exhibitor and sponsor.

“Not only has Bert attended nearly every convention in the last 25 years, he has actively supported them in every way possible,” said RVDA President Mike Molino. “He is an active membership recruiter for the association and a valuable member of the RVDA board.”

The JBS Award, created in 1986, is named in honor of RVDA’s second chief staff officer James B. Summers, who passed away in 2010. It is the highest award a member can receive for consistent and outstanding service to the association. The board of directors selects the winner each year by secret ballot from among nominations submitted by association members.

June 25, 2009 by RVBusiness · Comments Off on RVRA Expects ’09 RV Rentals to Be Better Than ’08

A new survey of RV Rental Association (RVRA) members indicates RV rental companies anticipate 2009 will be better for RV rentals than 2008, despite a slow economy. Those responding to the association’s annual survey report RV rental activity will be up an average of 12% this year, according to a news release.

“The survey results show that even in a tough economy, people still plan to go on RV vacations,” said RVRA Chairman Bert Alanko of MBA Insurance Inc. in Scottsdale, Ariz. “People value their vacation time, and renting an RV is still a very economical way to travel.”

Unlike previous years, gas prices are less of a concern for those responding to the survey. Most RV rental vacations will be about the same length as previous years, RVRA members report. The survey shows that only about 10% of RV rental customers are booking shorter trips, while 71% are booking their rental for the same amount of time as the previous year.

For anyone looking to plan an RV rental vacation this year, information and resources are available at www.rvra.org. This site offers an online directory that has a state-by-state listing of more than 300 rental companies across the U.S. and Canada. The site features consumer tips on renting, including advice on selecting the proper unit.

RVRA is the rental division of the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), the national association representing RV retailers. The association’s members include RV dealers, RV rental operations and RV aftermarket locations.

June 15, 2009 by RVBusiness · Comments Off on RVRA Member Provides Trailer for Outdoors Promotion

Warren Keely, right, owner and operator of Road Trip Rentals in Broad Run, Va., provided a travel trailer for the national “Get Outdoors Day” event at Kingman Island in Washington, D.C., on June 13. With him is Derrick Crandall, president of the American Recreation Coalition (ARC). A consortium of federal agencies and nonprofit organizations including ARC and the U.S. Forest Service organized the annual event to encourage health outdoor fun across the nation. The Washington event was one of 62 local Get Outdoors Day events held across the nation. Prime goals of the day are reaching first-time visitors to public lands and reconnecting youth to the outdoors. Keely is a member of the RV Rental Association (RVRA), a division of the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), the national association representing RV retailers. The association’s members include RV dealers, RV rental operations and RV aftermarket locations.